The locality hopes to enact an ordinance that will punish those who leave junk on their lawns or on their property for an extended period of time.

Polk Township defines junk as: "Unused or abandoned machinery, equipment or appliances including scrap, metal, glass, industrial waste, tires, automobile parts, carpeting, furniture, containers, construction materials, glass, appliances, as well as any items that can no longer be used for their intended purpose and have little or no economic value."

Polk is proposing the ordinance because some residents have been known to keep junk on their front lawns. The township believes the unwanted items are an eyesore and could even be unsanitary, said Polk Township Zoning Officer Gerald Zurat.

Zurat said that the high number of foreclosures in recent years has exacerbated the junk problem. When banks hire cleaners to clear out foreclosed homes, they sometimes leave all the left-behind items by the side of the road, mistakenly thinking the township has its own garbage hauler, Zurat said.

The proposed ordinance also says people cannot say they are simply "storing" junk on their lawns or in their backyards or on other areas of their property. This means that residents are not allowed to place junk, as it's defined by the township, on their property for more than 72 consecutive hours.

If the ordinance is passed, violators face fines of up to $500; each day of a violation will constitute a separate offense.

Other townships have similar junk ordinances in place, Zurat said. He said it was time that Polk also have one in place since it already has ordinances governing litter and solid waste, but not junk.

"It was a gap in our code book," Zurat said.

Polk's board of supervisors will vote on the proposed ordinance at 7 p.m. Jan. 28 at the Polk Township building.